US8354973B2 - Antenna - Google Patents
Antenna Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US8354973B2 US8354973B2 US12/673,466 US67346608A US8354973B2 US 8354973 B2 US8354973 B2 US 8354973B2 US 67346608 A US67346608 A US 67346608A US 8354973 B2 US8354973 B2 US 8354973B2
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- circuit board
- phased array
- array antenna
- antenna according
- components
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Active, expires
Links
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims description 23
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 claims description 14
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000005476 soldering Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000012536 packaging technology Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 229910000679 solder Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000003491 array Methods 0.000 abstract description 2
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000007704 transition Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229910001218 Gallium arsenide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003990 capacitor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000919 ceramic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003278 mimic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
- H01Q21/00—Antenna arrays or systems
- H01Q21/0006—Particular feeding systems
- H01Q21/0025—Modular arrays
Definitions
- This invention is concerned with new phased array antennas eliminating the need for numerous discrete transmit/receive modules, thereby reducing the cost of such array antennas. More specifically but not exclusively, the invention relates to a phased array antenna comprising discrete components in place of transmit/receive modules.
- phased array antennas The general trend in the art, when constructing phased array antennas, is to determine the highest operating frequency of an antenna to be constructed and, based on the requirements for spacing the radiating elements that result from this selected operating frequency, placing radiating elements coupled to transmit/receive modules at exactly this spacing to minimise the number of transmit/receive modules used.
- Each transmit/receive module is a distinct entity which performs the functions of high power transmission, reception and gain/phase control for beam forming and beam steering.
- this is not a very cost-effective method of constructing a phased array antenna, as such transmit/receive modules are usually very expensive and are not readily assembled into a complete antenna.
- the present invention provides a phased array antenna comprising: a plurality of communication units; the communication units comprising a series of components collectively performing the function of a plurality of conventional transmit/receive modules.
- the present invention aims to replicate the functionality of a known form of phased array antenna, i.e. the radiating element spacing is the same and the power output per element is the same.
- each radiating element is connected to an identical transmit/receive module—in the antenna of the invention, each radiating element is connected to a number of separately packaged components which together replicate the functionality of the conventional transmit/receive modules.
- the main components which implement the required transmit/receive functionality are preferably implemented in two packages, a ‘low power’ and ‘high power’ unit.
- each communication unit consists of a single printed circuit board further including all supporting circuitry required by the phased array antenna.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a known form of phased array antenna comprising a series of communication modules connected to a series of radiating elements, each communication module being in the form of a transmit/receive module;
- FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the transmit/receive modules of the known form of phased array of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a phased array antenna in accordance with the invention, showing a communication unit, the communication unit comprising a plurality of components having the functionality of plurality of transmit/receive modules.
- FIG. 1 which shows the configuration of the array antenna 100 behind the array face 400 on which the radiating elements 410 are located.
- Each radiating element 410 , 410 ′, 410 ′′ is in communication with a transmit/receive module 500 , 500 ′, 500 ′′ (as shown by arrows 34 , 34 ′, 34 ′′) which is in turn in communication with combining element 450 (as shown by arrows 32 , 32 ′, 32 ′′).
- Each combining element 450 is in turn in communication (as shown by arrow 36 ) with the main array portion 300 .
- a plurality of transmit/receive modules 500 may be in communication with one combining element 450 . Alternatively more than one combining element is then combined.
- FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the transmit/receive modules 500 , 500 ′, 500 ′′ in the phased array antenna of FIG. 1 .
- the transmit/receive modules 500 , 500 ′ and 500 ′′ have been replaced by a series of components 500 a, b and c , 500 ′ a, b and c and 500 ′′ a, b and c .
- the components together perform the function of transmit/receive modules and advantageously may be mounted on a single circuit board also comprising any supporting circuitry required and normally external to the transmit/receive modules.
- Components 500 a, b and c , 500 ′ a, b and c and 500 ′′ a, b and c may comprise a low power module, incorporating two chips in a package. (the purpose of this low power module being gain/phase shifting on transmit and receive, overall control, and generation of a low level drive signal for transmit); a high power module, which again is a multi-chip package (the purpose of the high power module being to amplify the low level transmit signal); a low noise amplifier/protection switch module (which may be one of two variants, one with this as a separate unit, the other with it inside the high power module); a surface-mount circulator (which may be replaced with a transmit/receive switch) and a small number of simple components such as capacitors.
- the digital control circuitry will comprise a number of generally standard surface mount components. It will be appreciated that although specific examples are given above, these are not limiting and any combination of components may be used that achieve the desired effect.
- the components 500 a, b and c , 500 ′ a, b and c and 500 ′′ a, b and c are mounted on the circuit board using surface mount packaging technology that advantageously can provide the required interconnects for power, control and high frequency microwave.
- surface mount packages are utilised, industry standard soldering technologies may be used, whilst the required connectivity is attained.
- Special connections as described in GB Application No 0615389.4 (XA2192) entitled ‘Antennas’ may be used and are incorporated here by reference. These connections are essentially a pattern of Ball Grid Array solder balls which mimic a vertical co-axial transition.
- the soldering techniques referred to above may utilise Ball Grid Array (BGA) technology.
- BGA Ball Grid Array
- hot components would be mounted on a heat spreader attached to a cold wall to reduce the temperature of the components.
- BGA technology can be used, a plurality of solder balls under the discrete ‘hot’ components conduct heat through thermal vias that can be designed into the circuit board. The board can then be bonded to a cold wall, thereby simplifying the design and structure of the communication unit. This also eliminates the need for separate mechanical fixing of transmit/receive modules, as the components are of sufficiently low mass that soldering provides a satisfactory method of attachment.
- transmit/receive module functionality can be achieved by the use of three main components: one for low power/control, one for high power, plus an external unpackaged circulator.
- a plurality of transmit/receive module equivalents are implemented on a single printed circuit board which can incorporate all power, control and RF interconnections, radiating elements, additional control and power supply circuitry to form a single communication unit.
- a plurality of such communication units is then simply assembled to form a complete phased array antenna.
- the phased array antenna described above mounts each communication unit on a cold wall, which may be cooled by various means depending upon the operating frequency of the antenna (which determines the dimensions) and the power density.
- the antenna described employs a liquid cooling channel embedded in the cold wall to support the power densities required for an X-band antenna.
- the device has been proved successful for upward of 30 radiating elements on a single circuit board, although any number of radiating elements is envisaged.
- phased array antenna of the invention may be used over any frequency range but the advantages are particularly relevant to arrays operating at frequencies of 5 GHz and above.
Landscapes
- Variable-Direction Aerials And Aerial Arrays (AREA)
- Cooling Or The Like Of Electrical Apparatus (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims (20)
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GBGB0716116.9A GB0716116D0 (en) | 2007-08-17 | 2007-08-17 | Antenna |
GB0716116.9 | 2007-08-17 | ||
PCT/EP2008/060718 WO2009024539A1 (en) | 2007-08-17 | 2008-08-14 | Antenna |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20100201601A1 US20100201601A1 (en) | 2010-08-12 |
US8354973B2 true US8354973B2 (en) | 2013-01-15 |
Family
ID=38566595
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/673,466 Active 2029-07-09 US8354973B2 (en) | 2007-08-17 | 2008-08-14 | Antenna |
Country Status (9)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US8354973B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2186164A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2010537461A (en) |
KR (1) | KR101473283B1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU2008290579B2 (en) |
BR (1) | BRPI0815212A2 (en) |
GB (1) | GB0716116D0 (en) |
IL (1) | IL203969A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2009024539A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP5726613B2 (en) * | 2011-04-19 | 2015-06-03 | 株式会社東芝 | Antenna unit and antenna device |
Citations (16)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4791421A (en) * | 1986-09-10 | 1988-12-13 | Westinghouse Electric Corp. | Transmit-receive module for phased-array antennas |
EP0620613A2 (en) | 1993-04-15 | 1994-10-19 | Hughes Aircraft Company | Small manufacturable array lattice layers |
US5854607A (en) * | 1995-02-03 | 1998-12-29 | Gec-Marconi Avionics (Holdings) Limited | Arrangement for supplying power to modular elements of a phased array antenna |
US5995062A (en) * | 1998-02-19 | 1999-11-30 | Harris Corporation | Phased array antenna |
US6278400B1 (en) | 1998-09-23 | 2001-08-21 | Northrop Grumman Corporation | Dual channel microwave transmit/receive module for an active aperture of a radar system |
WO2002019469A1 (en) | 2000-08-29 | 2002-03-07 | The Boeing Company | Three dimensional packaging architecture for phased array antenna elements |
US6441783B1 (en) * | 1999-10-07 | 2002-08-27 | Qinetiq Limited | Circuit module for a phased array |
US20020185718A1 (en) | 2001-03-13 | 2002-12-12 | Kazuyuki Mikubo | Semiconductor device packaging structure |
US20030011515A1 (en) | 2001-07-16 | 2003-01-16 | Motorola, Inc. | Apparatus for effecting transfer of electromagnetic energy |
GB2397697A (en) | 2003-01-22 | 2004-07-28 | Roke Manor Research | Folded flexible antenna array |
US6784837B2 (en) * | 2000-04-07 | 2004-08-31 | Chief Controller, Research And Development Ministry Of Defence, Government Of India | Transmit/receiver module for active phased array antenna |
US20050151215A1 (en) | 2004-01-13 | 2005-07-14 | Hauhe Mark S. | Circuit board assembly and method of attaching a chip to a circuit board |
US6937471B1 (en) * | 2002-07-11 | 2005-08-30 | Raytheon Company | Method and apparatus for removing heat from a circuit |
US7129908B2 (en) * | 2004-06-08 | 2006-10-31 | Lockheed Martin Corporation | Lightweight active phased array antenna |
US7265719B1 (en) | 2006-05-11 | 2007-09-04 | Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. | Packaging technique for antenna systems |
US7391382B1 (en) * | 2005-04-08 | 2008-06-24 | Raytheon Company | Transmit/receive module and method of forming same |
Family Cites Families (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5493304A (en) * | 1994-09-29 | 1996-02-20 | Hughes Aircraft Company | Calibration system for wide band array using true-time-delay beamsteering |
JP3081987B2 (en) * | 1996-02-06 | 2000-08-28 | 日本電気株式会社 | Active phased array antenna |
JP2003309483A (en) * | 2002-04-16 | 2003-10-31 | Mitsubishi Electric Corp | High frequency module, active phased array antenna and communication equipment |
JP3893496B2 (en) * | 2002-07-03 | 2007-03-14 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Antenna device |
JP2004120325A (en) * | 2002-09-26 | 2004-04-15 | Toshiba Corp | Antenna device |
JP2005117108A (en) * | 2003-10-02 | 2005-04-28 | Toshiba Corp | Active phased array antenna apparatus |
JP2005117139A (en) * | 2003-10-03 | 2005-04-28 | Mitsubishi Electric Corp | Microwave module, and array antenna system employing the same |
-
2007
- 2007-08-17 GB GBGB0716116.9A patent/GB0716116D0/en not_active Ceased
-
2008
- 2008-08-14 BR BRPI0815212 patent/BRPI0815212A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2008-08-14 US US12/673,466 patent/US8354973B2/en active Active
- 2008-08-14 KR KR1020107005218A patent/KR101473283B1/en active IP Right Grant
- 2008-08-14 EP EP08787248A patent/EP2186164A1/en not_active Ceased
- 2008-08-14 AU AU2008290579A patent/AU2008290579B2/en active Active
- 2008-08-14 JP JP2010520589A patent/JP2010537461A/en active Pending
- 2008-08-14 WO PCT/EP2008/060718 patent/WO2009024539A1/en active Application Filing
-
2010
- 2010-02-15 IL IL203969A patent/IL203969A/en active IP Right Grant
Patent Citations (17)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4791421A (en) * | 1986-09-10 | 1988-12-13 | Westinghouse Electric Corp. | Transmit-receive module for phased-array antennas |
EP0620613A2 (en) | 1993-04-15 | 1994-10-19 | Hughes Aircraft Company | Small manufacturable array lattice layers |
US5493305A (en) | 1993-04-15 | 1996-02-20 | Hughes Aircraft Company | Small manufacturable array lattice layers |
US5854607A (en) * | 1995-02-03 | 1998-12-29 | Gec-Marconi Avionics (Holdings) Limited | Arrangement for supplying power to modular elements of a phased array antenna |
US5995062A (en) * | 1998-02-19 | 1999-11-30 | Harris Corporation | Phased array antenna |
US6278400B1 (en) | 1998-09-23 | 2001-08-21 | Northrop Grumman Corporation | Dual channel microwave transmit/receive module for an active aperture of a radar system |
US6441783B1 (en) * | 1999-10-07 | 2002-08-27 | Qinetiq Limited | Circuit module for a phased array |
US6784837B2 (en) * | 2000-04-07 | 2004-08-31 | Chief Controller, Research And Development Ministry Of Defence, Government Of India | Transmit/receiver module for active phased array antenna |
WO2002019469A1 (en) | 2000-08-29 | 2002-03-07 | The Boeing Company | Three dimensional packaging architecture for phased array antenna elements |
US20020185718A1 (en) | 2001-03-13 | 2002-12-12 | Kazuyuki Mikubo | Semiconductor device packaging structure |
US20030011515A1 (en) | 2001-07-16 | 2003-01-16 | Motorola, Inc. | Apparatus for effecting transfer of electromagnetic energy |
US6937471B1 (en) * | 2002-07-11 | 2005-08-30 | Raytheon Company | Method and apparatus for removing heat from a circuit |
GB2397697A (en) | 2003-01-22 | 2004-07-28 | Roke Manor Research | Folded flexible antenna array |
US20050151215A1 (en) | 2004-01-13 | 2005-07-14 | Hauhe Mark S. | Circuit board assembly and method of attaching a chip to a circuit board |
US7129908B2 (en) * | 2004-06-08 | 2006-10-31 | Lockheed Martin Corporation | Lightweight active phased array antenna |
US7391382B1 (en) * | 2005-04-08 | 2008-06-24 | Raytheon Company | Transmit/receive module and method of forming same |
US7265719B1 (en) | 2006-05-11 | 2007-09-04 | Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. | Packaging technique for antenna systems |
Non-Patent Citations (3)
Title |
---|
International Search Report of Application No. PCT/EP2008/060718 dated Nov. 28, 2008. |
Notification of Transmittal of the International Search Report and the Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority (Forms PCT/ISA/220, PCT/ISA/210 and PCT/ISA/237) Issued in the corresponding International Application No. PCT/EP2008/060718 dated Nov. 11, 2008. |
Search Report issued in the corresponding United Kingdom Application No. GB0716116.9 dated Apr. 2, 2008. |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
BRPI0815212A2 (en) | 2015-03-31 |
AU2008290579B2 (en) | 2013-09-26 |
KR101473283B1 (en) | 2014-12-16 |
JP2010537461A (en) | 2010-12-02 |
GB0716116D0 (en) | 2007-09-26 |
WO2009024539A1 (en) | 2009-02-26 |
IL203969A (en) | 2013-12-31 |
US20100201601A1 (en) | 2010-08-12 |
EP2186164A1 (en) | 2010-05-19 |
KR20100047313A (en) | 2010-05-07 |
AU2008290579A1 (en) | 2009-02-26 |
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